Chargers earn split with Lakers

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — Dan Pochmara put his name in the Hillsdale College baseball record books.The sophomore set the career saves record Wednesday as the Chargers split a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with the Grand Valley State Lakers at Simpson Field, rallying for a 6-5 victory in the opener before falling 3-1 in nine innings in the nightcap.Hillsdale (10-8, 3-2 GLIAC) erased a four-run deficit with a big fifth and sixth inning to win the first game. The second game saw Grand Valley State (10-8, 4-1 GLIAC) plate two runs in the top of the ninth inning to salvage the split.Pochmara earned the save in the first game, pitching the top of the seventh inning. Despite allowing a run on two hits, Pochmara worked out of the jam to post his third save of the season and eighth of his young career, setting the Hillsdale College record. After recording five saves as a freshman in 2011, Pochmara missed all of last season recovering from an injury.The Lakers plated two runs in the top of the first inning and added runs in the third and fifth to gain a 4-0 lead. Hillsdale roared back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Brad Hayden's RBI single scored Vinny Delicata, then Scott Lantis scored on Luke Ortel's RBI single, making it 4-2. Hayden came home on Zak Northrup's sacrifice bunt and Ortel scored on Mike Vanchieri's flyout, tying the game.After holding the Lakers scoreless in the top of the sixth, Hillsdale took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Ortel ripped a two-RBI double to left center, scoring Lantis and Delicata.Ortel finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Chargers. Hayden was 1-for-2 with a RBI and run, while Delicata was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Lantis plated two runs and Northrup finished 1-for-3 with a RBI. Geordy Smith and Tad Sobieszczanski each added a hit.Shane Armstrong started the game on the mound for the Chargers and recorded the win. He pitched six innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one.Stephen Claypool went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs to lead Grand Valley State. Giancarlo Brugnoni hit a two-run home run in the first inning.Both teams had six hits in the second game as Hillsdale's Kris Morris and Grand Valley's Anthony Campanella engaged in a stellar pitcher's duel. The Chargers scored first when Sobieszczanski plated Ortel with a RBI fielder's choice. The Lakers made it 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning when Brugnoni's RBI single brought home Kevin Zak.After four scoreless innings, Grand Valley took the lead in the top of the ninth. Jesse Abel's two-RBI single scored Brugnoni and Zak, making it 3-1. The Chargers were unable to answer in the bottom half of the frame.Ortel finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead Hillsdale. Sobieszczanski had a hit and a RBI, while Connor Bartlett, Michael O'Sullivan and Vanchieri each had a hit. Morris took the pitching loss, scattering five hits and striking out four in eight innings of work.Zak went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Lakers. Campanella pitched eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out three.The Chargers are scheduled to play a three-game series at Tiffin University over the weekend.

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